National Philatelic Museum

National Philatelic Museum

Founder(s)	Bernard Davis
Type	not-for-profit organization
Founded	1948
Location	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Key people	Bernard Davis
Area served	worldwide philatelic societies
Focus	worldwide stamp collecting
Mission	to create awareness for philately
Method	exhibits, philatelic exhibitions, philatelic library, and courses in philately through its Philatelic Institute
Dissolved	c1959
Published thirty six Bulletins

The National Philatelic Museum, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was a short-lived not-for-profit organization intended to create awareness for philately, and to offer courses on the subject of philately.

History

The museum was the “brainchild” of Bernard Davis, a wealthy banker who was also an avid stamp collector. The museum was located on Broad and Diamond Streets in downtown Philadelphia, and opened its doors on December 5, 1948.

Offerings

The museum offered a variety of services, including: presentation of exhibits in frames for public viewing and a philatelic library. The museum also was the location of numerous philatelic exhibitions held by various philatelic societies. The National Philatelic Museum was somewhat unique since, in conjunction with nearby Temple University, it offered courses in philately through its Philatelic Institute.

Publications

During the course of its existence, the museum published a total of thirty six Bulletins containing articles on various aspects of philately. Some of the subjects published in the booklets were related to the France, Airpost, Pan-American, Bavaria, Germany, New South Wales, Switzerland, Ben Franklin and the American Philatelic Congress.

Demise

The museum remained in existence for about ten years. When the Spellman Museum of Stamps & Postal History was established in 1960, the majority of material and equipment from the National Philatelic Museum was transferred there.

See also

• Philately

References

• National Philatelic Museum, Philadelphia